Rotary engine.



Patented Dec. 3, l90l. F. G. TEES.

ROTARYENGINE.

(ApplicationAQed Apr. 9, 1901.)

2 sheets shea t (No Model.)

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No; 688,27l. v Patented 'Dec. 3, I90l."

' F. G. TEES.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application flled Apr. 9, 1901.) I

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE. I

FREDERICK G. TEES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO JOHN-H. SORDEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 688,271, datedDecember 3, 1901.

Application filed April 9, 1901.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. TEEs, a citizen of the United States,residingin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in rotary engines, andmore particularly to improvementsin the engine for which a patent wasgranted to me on December 1900, No. 664,509. V

The objects of my invention are to construct a rotary engine which shallbe economical in operation and which while having 1ts parts so that theymay be easily adjusted to compensate for wear yet shall not becomplicated nor costly to build. These objects I attain as hereinafterset forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isa sectional View on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isasectional view onthe line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4' is a sectional View on the line 4 4, Fig.2. Fig.5 is a vertical sectional view of the piston with the coverremoved. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective View of one of the blades, andFig. 7 is a sectional View of a modified-form of reversing-Valve to beused with my improved englne. v

A is a casing mounted on the base A; Se-

cured to each end of the casing are suitable heads B B,forn1i ng withthe casing A a steamchamber in which the piston revolves. The head B mayform the partition between two engine-casings, as shown in Fig. 3, whenit is desired to drive a shaft by two rotary engines placed in line. Thehead B has a large opening 19* at the center for the passage of theshaft. This head B is preferably made hollow, as shown in Figsl2 and 3,so as to form an exhaust-chamber b, connecting with the exhaust-port ofthe engine and having an openingb, through which the exhaust may pass tothe atmosphere, to a condenser, "or to the admission-valve chamber ofanother engine. In the casing A are two steam-inlet ports a a and acentral exhaust-port a, com- 50 municating with the exhaust-chamber b.

The head Bis preferably dished in form Serial No. 55,025. (N8 model.)

and extends within the steam-chamber, as shown in Fig. 2, the surfacethereof which comes in contact with the inside of the said chamber beingprovided with a soft-metal ring b as shown. This ring extends intodovetailed slots in the head B. The ring-coming flush with the insideface of the head is faced off and provides a bearing-surface for theends of the sliding shoes attached to the 66 piston and to behereinafter described. There is also a packing-ring b set in a recess inthe edge of the casing,by means of which a steamtight joint is obtainedbetween the head B and the said casing.

A shaft 0, supported in bearings C, only one of which is shown in thedrawings, passes through the center of the steam-chamber. Looselymounted on the shaft 0 is a piston D, made in two parts D and D In thepiston 70 are one or more recesses d, and on the shaft in the presentinstance are two arms 0 c, which rest in the recesses in the said pistonandzthroughwhich the shaft is'turned.

It will be noted that the piston D has an extended hub cl passingthrough the head B, there preferably being a stuffing-box 612 providedto prevent the possible escape along the shaft of steam or oil from thespace within cylindrical section (9 said steam and oil hav- 8o ing beenfound to pass between the piston and the head B and to accumulate insaid space. There is also a stuffing-box inthe head B itself to preventleakage of steam from the steam-chamber around the projection d of therotary piston. This piston is cylindrical in form and in the presentinstance is made in two parts D and D in order that a cam E of the shapeshown may be operatively placed within it. The said cam is held by a key9 to an inwardly-projecting cylindrical section b of the head B, thepart D of the piston being recessed to retain said cam without havingits rotation in any way interfered with thereby. The parts of the piston5 are rigidly held together" by bolts 61 there being suitable lugsprovided for them. In the piston shown there are two recesses extendinginwardly from the surface and placed one hundred and eighty degreesapart, hav- 10o ing in them reciprocating slides e e of theshapeshowninFigs.1,2,and 6. Theinwardlyprojecting sections of the pistonwhich form the recesses are cut away at d on account of the eccentricityof the cam E, this latter not coming in contact with any part of thesaid piston at any point of its revolution. The said reciprocatingslides, Fig. 6, are the full width of the piston and have in their outerfaces a recess,preferabl y cylindrical, in which fits loosely a shoe 6This consists of a curved bearing-section adapted to slide upon theinside surface of the steam-chamber and a cylindrical head fitting therecess, the two being connected by a neck of such proportions that itholds the bearing-section far enough away from the body of the slide toallow of said bearing-section being inclined from one side to the otheras it follows the curved inside surface of the steam-chamber.

There is a hollow space within each slide, preferably rectangular insection, in which are placed a wedge-block e and a recessed wedge-blockc, there being a spring 6 between the blocks, as shown. In order thatthe pressure exerted by the spring upon the block 6 may be varied, ascrew a is provided, this being within a countersunk opening in theslide and extending into the wedge-shaped block 6 Within the inner faceof the-piece e is journaled a shoe 6 similar in shape to the shoe 6 itbeing of the same width as and bearing upon the edge of the cam c, thislatter being similar in outline to that of the interior of thesteam-chamber.

- Secured to the upper part of the casing A in any suitable manner is areversing-valve chest F, and carried by an extension of this chestis anadmission-valve chest G. WVithin the chest G is a slide-valve 9, havingin the present instance two passages g, communicating with the two portsg connecting with the passage leading to the valve-chest F, as shown inFig. 2. On the rear of the valve g are two lugs through which passes thescrewthreaded valve-stem 9 having nuts by which the valve can beadjusted on the stem. This latter is guided at both ends and passesthrough a stuffing-box 9 On the shaft 0 is an eccentric G, having astrap 9 connected to the valve-rod 9*, as shown.

I is the steam-inlet pipe communicating with the chest G.

By the construction of valve shown I am enabled to admit a quantity ofsteam to the engine during a short stroke of the valve. The valve f inthe chest F is not only a reversing-valve, but may also be used asastopvalve when shifted to the position shown in Fig. 1. It is of thetype known as a D slidevalve, having a recessf communicating at alltimes with the exhaust-port a.

Adjustably secured to the valve f is a rod f which extends through astuffing-box in the casing F and is connected to one arm of a lever fpivoted to the casing A. The other arm has a suitable operating -handlewhich may be secured.in any position to a quadrant f By shifting thevalve f the direction of rotation of the piston D may bore versed, orthe piston may be brought to a stop by shifting the valve to a centralposition, as in Fig. l.

I may modify the construction of the reversing-valve. For instance, inFig. 71 have shown a D-valvehavinga steam-inlet passage f at each end,which may register with the steam-inlet ports a. The passages fcommunicate with alongitudinal passage f Side passages f extend fromthis longitudinal passage f to the sides of the valve, so that the valveis balanced. The valve may be held to its seat by a screw, as shown inFig. 7.

Holes d d are formed through the side of the head B, (shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2,) through which any steam possibly accumulating withinthe hollow of the piston may blow olf into the exhaust-passage b whenthe slide-recesses of the piston pass said holes.

In operation steam passes from the admission-valve 0 through the passage9 to the reversing-valve F, and this is moved by hand so as to opencommunication between the steam-space inside of the valve-chest F andthe interior of the steam-chamber, the direction of rotation of theengine depending uponwhich of the passages a is connected to thesteam-space of the valve-chest. The admission-valve g is so set thatsteam enters the steam-chamber when one of the slides a has reached aposition indicated by the dotted lines m. Owing to the pressure on theslide the piston D begins to revolve, the said slide forming asteam-tight joint with the inside surface of the steam-chamber and theoutside edge of the fixed cam E. The shoes (2 and e follow thecurvatures of the cam and of the inside of the chamber, the spring econtinually acting to force these shoes apart and form tight joints. theslide has reached the positionindicated at as, from which point itexpands until the second one of the slides uncovers the port a,connected with the exhaust, when the steam escapes through this to thecondenser or other engine. by said second slide. When for any reason itis desired to alter the pressure of the shoes upon theirbearing-surfaces, the screw 9 is operated, thereby moving the wedge e inor out. This can be accomplished without dismantling the engine, as acapped opening is provided in the head B.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that I may operate thecut-off valve G in connection with any desired form of governor, bywhich means the amount and time of opening of said valve, andconsequently the amount of steam admitted, is varied according to theload on the engine.

When two engines are usedin line,as shown in Fig. 3, I prefer to placethe driving-arms c of one engine ninety degrees in advance of the arms 0of the other engine. Both engines may be used as high-pressure enginesor may be compounded, as desired.

This cycle of operations is repeated The steam is cut off when IIO Itwill be understood that while I have referred to steam as the drivingfluid any fluid under pressure may be used.

The piston D is not necessarily, made in two parts, as I may place thecam within the same and retain it in position by means of guides boltedto the piston itself, the said cam being held stationary by thecylindrical projection b of the head B, as above explained.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination in a rotary engine, ofacasing having in it a steam-chamber, a shaft extending through the samecarrying a piston, a cam supported by a projection from the casing andslides within the piston extending between the cam and the curved insidesurface of the steam-chamber, there being shoes loosely mounted in theends of each slide and means on each slide for varying, at will, thepressure of the shoes upon the cam and upon the curved surface of thechamber, substan tially as described.

2. The combination in a rotary engine of the character described, of apiston having radially-placed movable slides, the same consisting of apiece carrying a bearing-shoe on each end, a spring acting against oneof said shoes, and a wedge within said piece, the said wedge beingadjustable as to position, the pressure of the spring upon'the shoebeing thereby variable, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a rotary engine, of a casing having in it asteam-chamber, a piston in the same having within it a cam, re cesses inthe piston and slides therein, bearing upon the cam and upon the insideof the curved surface of the steam-chamber, each of said slides havingtwo parts, one of the parts having a Width equal to that of the pistonand bearing upon the surface of the steamchamber, the other part beingless in width and bearing upon the cam, with an adjustable devicebetween said two parts whereby the pressure upon their respectivebearingsurfaces may be varied, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing having in it asteam-chamber, a steam-chest on said casing and ports extending from thesaid chest to the chamber, an exhaust-passage also leading from thesteamchest, a Valve controlling the admission and exhaust of steam tothe chamber, a removable head to the said chamber extending into thesame, and a packing-ring fixed to the said inwardly extending partwhereby a steam-tight joint is secured between the said head and thechamber, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a rotary engine, of a casing inclosing a chamber,a shaft extending therethrough, a piston on the shaft, slides carriedthereby bearing on the curved inside surfaces of the steam-chamber, ahead secured to the casing extending into the cham= her and having apacking-ring fixed to said inwardly-extending part, the upper ends ofthe said slides also bearing upon the. side of the packing-ring,substantially as described.

6. The combination in a rotary engine, of a casing and two heads forminga chamber, a piston within the chamber, inlet and outlet ports, a valvecontrolling the admission of motive fluid to the chamber, one of saidheads having an exhaust-chamber therein, said exhaust-chambercommunicating with the exhaust-port, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a rotary engine, of two engines arranged side byside in line, a hollow division-head situated between the casings of thetwo engines and communicat

